12 of the Most Underrated Fast Food Menu Items, According to Lifehacker Readers

Last week I asked you to reveal the fast food items that you personally love, but know to be tragically underrated. While you might be inclined to keep the secrets to yourself, spreading the word about these hidden gems is an act of service. Think about it: If you’re the only loyal consumer, these underrated items could wind up discontinued. (RIP Taco Bell’s Meximelt.)

I’d also like to draw attention to the spat in the comments section about my legitimacy as a writer because I expressed the controversial foodie opinion that Taco Bell tastes good. I stand by my bold claim. However, if you disagree with the merits of any of the following food items, then I promise you this: You don’t have to eat them. [Editor’s note: Taco Bell does taste good.] At the very least, you can enjoy the vintage fast food commercials on the following slides.

Without further ado, here are the 12 most underrated fast food menu items, according to Lifehacker readers.

Sonic Drive-In might not be one of your go-to chains in general, let alone first thing in the morning. But if one theme emerged from all of your responses to my original ask, it’s that a fast food breakfast is generally an underrated way to start your day.

Here’s what impassioned Lifehacker readers had to say:

“​​The Supersonic Breakfast Burrito is easily one of the best fast food breakfasts you can get (and you can get it any time of day too). Eggs, cheese, sausage, tater tots, onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos all wrapped in a flour tortilla. Squirt some of their picante sauce in there, and you’re ready to rock and roll.” —​​ItsDeke

“Sonic breakfast is so underrated..and they serve it ALL day, unlike those jerks at Micky D’s. The toast/egg/cheese sandwich slaps (I ask for it with out meat.) And the tater tots are so good - crispy, puffy and not (too) greasy.” —Toasts McGhosts

“Their breakfast toaster sandwiches are pretty good too, especially if you go to one of the places where they legitimately fry the bread on the griddle (some places just toast it and it’s sad). The bacon egg and cheese toaster sandwich is great, and they usually have nice, crispy bacon (I hate flimsy bacon in a breakfast sandwich).” —ThundercatsRidesAgain

When it comes to a satisfying onion ring, I could take or leave the actual onion part. It’s the crispiness of the deep fried coating that matters. On that front, Burger King delivers.

“​​The fact that Burger King has onion rings seems to go unnoticed. They are small, crunchy and can be had with a ring sauce that isn’t too spicy. I’ll sub for them anytime I go to BK, even though the fries are pretty good, too.” —Papa Van Twee

“I’m surprised more people don’t know about the rings thanks to the one ring that inevitably sneaks into every order of fries, to the point that I wonder if that’s a near universal accident or actual company policy.” —DL Thurston

This was hands-down the most unexpected response of all. Arby’s offers three variations of the gyro: roast beef, turkey, and traditional Greek. This mass produced version of the Greek food cart staple no doubt lacks authenticity. At the same time, if you’re going to Arby’s in search of culinary authenticity, the error may be yours.

“Though they’re not quite as good as you’ll get at the local Greek restaurant or falafel truck, Arby’s gryros are will satisfy if you got a hankerin’ and there’s no real gyro place nearby.” —Harmon20

(I couldn’t find an advertisement for Taco Bell’s black beans specifically, so please enjoy this SNL classic instead.)

You don’t have to be a vegan or vegetarian to appreciate Taco Bell’s non-meat options. And if you are avoiding meat, this is one of the best fast food chain options available. As reader toecheese4life tells us: “When I tried to go vegan these beans helped me last as long as a I did. Actually Taco Bell in general just did.”

“Taco Bell’s black beans are my hidden gem. They’re loaded up with cumin and garlic so they taste relatively fresh. Unlike the chicken or steak you can swap them out with the ground beef in any item for no additional cost. And as an added bonus, the juice from the beans is a built-in sauce so you avoid the dryness that tends to happen with Taco Bell. Oh, and they make any dish vegetarian if that’s your thing. The black bean Crunchwrap is a regular menu item and doesn’t require any substitution, and it is vastly superior to the regular beef one.”—crann777

While we’re talking Taco Bell, Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skwarecki chimes in with this food hack: Taco Bell’s “Cheesy roll-up.” She sums it up for us: “It’s just a tortilla with melty cheese, rolled up into a thin cheesy tube. $1. Kids love it, which entirely excuses them for not having a real kids’ menu.” She shares that although it’s not always on the menu, but they always have it. Live mas.

Once again, it looks like you can count on a fast food chain’s breakfast menu to exceed expectations without getting the recognition it deserves.

“Wendy’s has one of the best breakfasts you can get, but they only have breakfast until 10am. It’s the Baconator breakfast sandwich. Includes sausage and loads of bacon. And they also use hollandaise sauce, which just adds another level of flavor.” —Spderweb

“The Breakfast Baconator is a revelation, easily putting its competitors to shame. Another item of note is the seasoned potatoes, which are unfortunately only served during breakfast. The seasoning on these chip-style potatoes is so good I would easily go for just a box of those, any time of the day. They put the normal french-fries to shame!” —Ptom

Carl’s Jr. is best known for its burgers, or perhaps even its chicken tenders, but apparently the club sandwich is a hidden gem on the menu. Charbroiled chicken breast, bacon, melted Swiss cheese, and a potato bun—Lifehacker reader ahavatamid says the quality of this sandwich option “surprised” them. “Very juicy, tender and tastes like chicken. Make sure they go easy on the mayo (or go without).”

Tortilla soup is one of my favorite orders at a sit-down Mexican restaurant, yet I’ve never mastered making the dish on my own. As soon as the seasons start to turn and there’s the slightest hint of cold weather, I’ll be trying these fast food soup recommendations.

“Qdoba’s tortilla soup is vegetarian and it’s delicious.” —Rani doesn’t need Vijay

“Their Mexican Gumbo used to be my go-to. Basically it was that tortilla soup plus any burrito toppings you wanted in a bowl.” —ItsDeke

If this round-up has had two major themes, they’ve been (1) the surprising value of fast food breakfasts and (2) Taco Bell is good.

“Steak Breakfast Crunchwrap with a side of red sauce. The packets won’t do, must be the same red sauce used a bean burrito. That slightly smokey chili flavor on the nice steak and eggs...mmmm, that’s the stuff.” —Harmon20

“Breakfast Crunchwraps from Taco Bell are so good! And one of the cheapest breakfast items they have too!” —Burnout

“No one has ever made a better breakfast-in-your-car meal.” —MonkeyT

Meat substitutes have grown in popularity in recent years, and with good reason. A black bean burger simply doesn’t scratch the same itch that a juicy, meaty burger can. Impossible burgers stand out for how much they truly look, smell, and taste like real meat. A few readers like Omega Unlimited pointed out how Burger King’s Impossible Whopper lives up to the hype, and that they can “barely tell the difference from the beef version.” And there is no higher endorsement of fake meat than barely being able to tell it’s fake.

I’ll be honest. Jack in the Box isn’t in my regular rotation of fast food cravings (the lack of a location in the New York tri-state area being a key factor here). And yet...I’m drawn to the name of the fajita pita. I think I’d get a kick out of ordering it, just to say it aloud. Plus, the item itself looks like a lighter, healthier option as far as fast food goes.

And now, we wrap up on a bonus slide. Obviously I know that Costco isn’t traditionally considered a fast food chain. Reader barbotus knows this too. And yet, they want the people to know: The Chicken Bake at Costco is a treasure chest of flavor.